PUT THE GLASS DOWN!

This is a small story, though it is old and may be repetition it is
worth reading......

A professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students, "How much do you think this glass weighs?"

'50gms!' ..... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ...the students answered.

I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my
question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"

'Nothing' the students said.

'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the students.

"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!" ventured another student & all the students laughed.

"Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor.
'No' was the answer.

"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.

"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.

"Put the glass down!" said one of the students

"Exactly!" said the professor.

Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything. It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life, But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep..
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh & strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!

So, when you leave office today, & before you sleep…
Remember to

'PUT THE GLASS DOWN !'

"Touching" Moment

Need I say more?

Courtesy: Vinay Subramanya :-)

Happiness Quotient for Lifetime

An Important Question...A Brilliant Answer

Question: Can you please talk about restrictions during eclipse like not to eat?

Sri Sri: The mind has a deep connection with the moon and the moon is connected to water and water is connected to the body: 60 to 70 percent of the body is water. Everything is interconnected. When a celestial phenomenon happens, it impacts the body also. For example, the way you feel early in the morning is different from how you feel in the afternoon or evening. Evening goes with romantic music and melodies, morning goes with wake up calls. You can´t play romantic music in the afternoon.

The mind has an impact on the mind and body complex. Time has an impact on the mind. Planets have an impact on mind and the mind-body complex. Ancient people have written about it. When the mind says, `It´s wrong´, you try to prove it wrong and when you can´t prove it wrong, the mind accepts it. For example, turmeric. In the 70s and 80s, people dismissed it as only being a pigment with no food value but now scientists say it has the best anti oxidant value like amla (gooseberry) and tulsi (basil). They have started rediscovering the ancient sacred herbs as being very useful and a must for healthy living.

The reason we say, don´t eat during and before the time of eclipse is because the food increases metabolism in the body. Increased metabolism doesn´t let the mind be in a calm state. If you have food, you would simply fall asleep. We advise this to soothe the system and not excite it during the celestial phenomenon.

His simple-yet-profound knowledge makes us realize life is a real "...Wow!"

Jai GuruDeva
(May YOU become wise like a Guru and playful like a Deva)

HAITI DISASTER..What we can do?

(Courtesy Pic : http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/01/13/article-1242929-07D9251D000005DC-556_964x640.jpg)

What happens when the heart of your nation, its financial and political
capital, is virtually destroyed? What happens when at least 200,000 of your
family and friends are crushed by collapsing buildings and 3 million people –
1/3 of the population – lose their families, their homes, their livelihoods
– everything they've ever known?

You lose hope.

Martine leads a group of Art of Living youth leaders in Carrefour, Haiti, near
Port au Prince. She emailed a report and pictures of the street children the
group is working with. She signed off with "I love you. Big kisses." This
email was sent just hours before the earthquake ripped open her neighborhood.
Martine is only 22, and this bold girl wants to dedicate her life to empowering her people. She is
starting her teacher training to empower youth to become leaders, and responsible citizens. We haven't heard from her since the earthquake.

"My Haitian students are fierce and proud, with incredible devotion and resilience. When they smile, they light up a room. There's a depth in their eyes that comes from a deep connection with both pain and love. Whenever they start any activity, they pray. When hardship comes, they pray. God is almost always on their minds. They are praying right now." - Uma Viswanathan, Art of Living Teacher

Dr. RoseMarie Toussaint, a surgeon and Art of Living teacher, talks lovingly of
her homeland. "Being born and raised in Port-au-Prince, I am devastated by what has happened to my people, my friends and family. My country is suffering. I want to jump on a plane right now to help. But I need help to make a real difference."

(Courtesy Pic: http://despardes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/5-e1263408803734.jpg)

Donate Now. www.iahv.org. Click on Haiti. 100% of your donations go to support:

- Immediate supplies and food

- Trauma relief programs

- Long-term rehabilitation programs

(Courtesy pic: http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=318330&sc=79)

Volunteer now

Especially seeking French-speakers. Contact jonathan.woodward@gmail.com

Host a Fundraising Event

For more information: umav@artofliving.org

Life is Beautiful....put on the right lens

By H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Happiness, peace and prosperity are wished for by every lip on New Year, but do we really know what peace means? Peace lies within us and we know it too. As we move beyond a year and enter new year, lets all take a resolution to become aware of this peace inside and allow our smiles to reflect the true sign of the prosperity that lies inside us. Here are seven ways to do it.

1. Give divine a chance, be grateful

This year, let the devotion flower to its fullest and give it a chance to work. Our love, faith & belief should be deep rooted, and then everything else moves on its own. The feeling that “I am blessed” can help you overcome any failure. Once you realise that you are blessed, then all the complaints & grumbling disappear, all the insecurities disappear & you become grateful, contented and peaceful.

2. Take out time for yourself

Everyday you are engaged in only gathering information and you do not take out time for yourself to think and reflect. Then you feel dull & tired. A few quiet moments are sources for creativity. Silence heals and rejuvenates and gives you depth and stability. Some time during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball. Taking out some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.

3. Know life’s impermanence

See the impermanence in this life. Millions of years have passed & millions will come and pass. Nothing is permanent. What is your life? It is not even a drop in the ocean.

Just open your eyes & ask; who am I? How am I on this planet? What is my lifetime? Awareness dawns & you will stop worrying about little things. All smallness will simply drop & you will be able to live every moment of your life. If you review the context of your life, the quality of your life improves.

4. Do random acts of kindness

Make a commitment to make this world a better place to live. Do some acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Service alone can bring contentment in life. It creates a sense of belongingness. When you bring some relief to someone through selfless service, good vibrations come to you. When you show kindness, your true nature which is love & peace comes to play.

5. Make your smile cheaper

Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give a good smile to yourself. Don't let your smile be snatched away by anybody! Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely as though a smile is costly. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive! When you smile all the muscles in your face get relaxed. The nerves in your brain get relaxed and you become peaceful within. It gives you the confidence, courage & energy to move on in life.

6. Make meditation a part of life

When we have higher goals in life it leads to stress & restlessness which can only be released through a few minutes of meditation & introspection. Meditation gives you deep rest. Deeper you are able to rest, dynamic you will be in activity. What is meditation?

Mind without agitation is meditation.
Mind in the present moment is meditation.
Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
Mind that comes back home to the source which is peace & joy is meditation.

7. Be a Student always

Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge may come to you from any corner. Each occasion teaches you & each person teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your life.

...so what colour are your lens?

Just Jockeying...